JLQD vs. VCIT
JLQD (Janus Henderson Corporate Bond ETF) and VCIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds - JLQD tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index while VCIT tracks the Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Corp Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, JLQD returned 5.54%/yr vs 6.00%/yr for VCIT. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. JLQD charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCIT.
Performance
JLQD vs. VCIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, JLQD achieves a 0.24% return, which is significantly higher than VCIT's 0.18% return.
JLQD
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- 0.42%
- YTD
- 0.24%
- 6M
- 0.13%
- 1Y
- 6.25%
- 3Y*
- 5.54%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VCIT
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 0.28%
- YTD
- 0.18%
- 6M
- 0.07%
- 1Y
- 6.13%
- 3Y*
- 6.00%
- 5Y*
- 1.22%
- 10Y*
- 2.93%
JLQD vs. VCIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JLQD Janus Henderson Corporate Bond ETF | 0.24% | 7.77% | 3.21% | 8.76% | -15.99% | -1.25% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.18% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 8.98% | -13.98% | -1.62% |
Correlation
The correlation between JLQD and VCIT is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2021 | 0.94 |
The correlation between JLQD and VCIT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
JLQD vs. VCIT — Risk / Return Rank
JLQD
VCIT
JLQD vs. VCIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Janus Henderson Corporate Bond ETF (JLQD) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| JLQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.12 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.27 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.19 | 2.08 | +0.11 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.63 | 6.95 | +0.68 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| JLQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.62 | 1.50 | +0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.19 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.47 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.02 | 0.75 | -0.73 |
Drawdowns
JLQD vs. VCIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum JLQD drawdown since its inception was -21.17%, roughly equal to the maximum VCIT drawdown of -20.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JLQD and VCIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| JLQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -21.17% | -20.56% | -0.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.87% | -2.96% | +0.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.84% | -6.11% | -0.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -20.56% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -20.56% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.97% | -1.36% | +0.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.77% | -3.16% | -5.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.82% | 0.88% | -0.06% |
Volatility
JLQD vs. VCIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Janus Henderson Corporate Bond ETF (JLQD) is 1.25%, while Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) has a volatility of 1.38%. This indicates that JLQD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| JLQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.25% | 1.38% | -0.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.78% | 3.06% | -0.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.88% | 4.10% | -0.22% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.32% | 6.61% | -0.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.32% | 6.28% | +0.04% |
JLQD vs. VCIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
JLQD has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VCIT's 0.04% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
JLQD vs. VCIT - Dividend Comparison
JLQD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.44%, more than VCIT's 4.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JLQD Janus Henderson Corporate Bond ETF | 5.44% | 5.28% | 5.36% | 3.99% | 2.77% | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.80% | 4.62% | 4.43% | 3.72% | 3.03% | 2.87% | 2.78% | 3.37% | 3.61% | 3.21% | 3.29% | 3.34% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, JLQD and VCIT move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VCIT has higher volatility (1.38%) compared to JLQD (1.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, JLQD dropped -21.17% vs VCIT's -20.56%.
On 3-year performance, VCIT leads with 6.00% vs 5.54% for JLQD. On fees, VCIT is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, JLQD has been the lower-risk option at 1.25%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, VCIT has performed better with a 6.00% return vs 5.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCIT is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for JLQD.
JLQD has the higher dividend yield at 5.44%, compared with 4.80% for VCIT.
JLQD tracks Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index, while VCIT tracks Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Corp Index. They also come from different issuers: Janus Henderson and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for JLQD and 0.04% for VCIT.
JLQD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.62 vs 1.50), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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